Monday, December 10, 2018

On Thanksgiving Day, the next season of MST3Kdropped on Netflix. Turkey Day had returned!

While only six episodes, it was presented as The Gauntlet – a challenge for Jonah and the bots to sit through six movies back-to-back. (Fortunately, we managed to spread them out over three days.)

Mac and Me – 1988 film where a lost alien befriends a boy in a wheelchair. Why no, it’s not an E.T. rip-off…
The actors gave it their best, but this one suffers from a lot of nonsense (why is the alien drilling a hole in the wall?) and placing characters in mortal danger many times. Too dark for kids, too dumb for anyone over the age of eight.
However, thanks to Jonah and the bots, it has one of the best lines ever – “This film is exactly like a Pixar movie in that they both exist.”

Atlantic Rim – Exactly what it sounds like – an Asylum Films rip-off of Pacific Rim.
The robots are almost passable, but the monster is beyond horrible and the characters shallow and over-dramatic.
The folks at Asylum aren’t even trying to make a decent film. They must be stopped.

Lords of the Deep – A rip-off of The Abyss filmed in an office building.
Strange creatures surround an underwater office – I mean, research facility – while the characters do their best to be bland and boring.
Almost unwatchable if not for Jonah and the bots.

The Day Time Ended - A solar-powered desert home is visited by aliens and thrust into a time warp.
This is one of those cheap 70’s science fiction films that’s a bit of a drug-induced mind trip. Interesting idea but all over the map in story focus and effects.
You will believe a tiny alien can dance. Well, maybe not…

Killer Fish – Lee Majors, Karen Black, jewel thieves, and piranhas in this campy 70’s film.
Produced by Fawcett-Majors Productions, this was obviously a little pet project for Lee Majors. Over the top characters and a stupid title don’t help though.
According to the film, piranhas eat a hundred times their weight and never stop eating. Ever!

Ator, Fighting Eagle – Before The Blade Master/Cave Dwellers, there was Ator…
The son of Torren goes to avenge…oh, who cares? It’s a terrible Conan rip-off. Plus Ator wants to marry his sister. And there are explosions!
If spiders creep you out, don’t worry – the giant spider in this film is in no way convincing at all.

Will you survive The Gauntlet…?

Aquaman News

Early screenings of the film are coming in and people love it! Not perfect, but a lot of fun, great effects, and the second best DC film ever.
You can read some of the reviewer’s tweets at Screen Rant.

The next Avengers’ movie trailer dropped last week! It doesn’t give us much, but the ending is funny. Watch it here or on YouTube.

Christmas Gifts for Writers

Literary Book Gifts
is an online store devoted to showcasing unique literary designs on shirts and totes.
Authors range from Henry David Thoreau to Jane Austen.
There is truly something for every book lover in the collection.

And, as a special treat for my readers, a discount code of 20% off!
The code ALEXJCAVANAUGH20 can be entered at checkout for 20% off your order.
No minimum, no expiry.
So go check out Literary Book Gifts!

New Book Releases

Beware the Jade Christmas by Roland YeomansYour past sins had teeth. This Christmas Eve, they bite back.
And while the Jade Christmas ghost isn’t real, the rest of the spirits in the book come from French Quarter legends!
Find it on print and eBook on Amazon

Are We Nearly Famous? by Patsy Collins, Sheila Crosby, Rosemary Kind, and Lynne PardoeThis collection of short stories is about journeys; literal, metaphorical and literary. Those both of the characters and the authors.
Pick it up for free at Amazon

Finding the Magic by Jack Lewis BaillotBelle is sent to the countryside to escape the London bombings during WWII.Find it on Amazon

The next posting is January 2 – the day after New Year’s Day. We’ll be announcing the winners of the IWSG Anthology Contest that day, so don’t miss it.

We also need co-hosts for next year – February, March, and April. All you have to do is visit twenty blogs within a section of the list. Leave a comment if you can co-host any of those months. It really is more fun on the host side…

Google+ is going away in January! If your icon, comment box, or follow widget is connected to Google+, go in and change it back to Blogger or Wordpress. Or no one will find you through your icon. Or comment on your site. (Sorry, all of your older comments will vanish...)

And finally, since so many commented that they had no idea Hot Tamales were a candy, here is Mini-Alex posing with some of my stash. They are chewy hot cinnamon bites of total delight!

Anyone else watch the new season of MST3K? Excited for Aquaman? (I think half of you commented last week that you were!) Looking for a gift for a writer? Some new books? Ready to try Hot Tamales? And can you co-host next year?

I best remember Karen Black from her early career film roles in Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces and Airport '75. She later became quite a scream queen and unfortunately died young at age 74. Karen's flick Killer Fish sounds sketchy, but I recently watched Piranha 3D (2010) and it was a hoot - very entertaining!

Yes, I want to see Aquaman. It's been over a month since I've seen a superhero movie and I'm already going through withdrawal. Besides, I want to see if DC has finally figured out how to do a superhero movie.

I might have seen Killer Fish back when it was released. I was in the Army then and went to the theatre to watch anything and everything. And upon checking IMBD, noticed James Franciscus is in it, too. I had a HUGE crush on him, so I'm thinking I DID see it. Anyway, the premise sure sounded familiar (and I was a sucker for those types of films back then).

By the way, if you're at all interested in the new Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse, go see it. I got in to a preview showing and it was so much better than I expected. Totally worth it. It's the reboot we didn't know we needed.

Since I've been getting Instagram notifications then I'm guessing I have an account. Have no idea what to do with it. Maybe if I get bored one day I'll investigate to see what it's about and how it might benefit me. Or maybe I'll just get fed up and get rid of most of my social media stuff. Life without internet seems so long ago.

Its hard luck for anyone who switched over to G+. Its great to see mini Alex so busy, Hot Tamales are candy - so thats what they are! I should've asked mini-Alex - bet he was keeping them in his secret stash!

We started the Gauntlet last week, but I groaned when I saw Mac and Me. I ended up skipping it and watching Killer Fish first. Then Ator. I didn't care I was watching them out of order. I'm a rebel like that. ;)

But I'm actually glad I did because I think I cracked up the most with Mac and Me. My kids walked in the room when the alien family was on the screen and froze, mouths agape.

I think they've been traumatized. LOL Naturally, like the great Mom I am, on occasion, I whistle with my hands held high just to say I love them.

I am excited for Aquaman and my daughter and I both enjoyed the trailer for Endgame. We're both trying to figure out how Antman...well, I'll stop before I slip into spoiler world for a different movie.

Hot Tamales are so delicious and addictive.

And it will be interesting to see who all made it into the anthology. Whoever makes it, it will be another awesome anthology.

Hot Tamales are more than nibble worthy. Shortly, after I saw the trailer for Avengers, I happened across a twitter post from NASA offering advice on locating missing men in space (addressed to the avengers). Have a great week!

What a chock-full post! I can't believe there's anyone who doesn't know about Hot Tamales—they're some pretty great stuff, as non-chocolate candy goes. I like the literary gifts and will have to check them out—thanks for the coupon code! Last year, I got one of my authors a custom infinity scarf from Litographs that featured the first 30k words of her first novel. She loved it! Book-themed gifts can never go amiss.

Oh I always loved Aquaman but I kind of miss the Ken doll look with his yellow and green outfit. The new movie looks great and they are not dead because there is always time travel...remember Superman saving Lois? I love that ending...hahahaa. I did see Killer Fish and remember laughing. Karen Black was in all these movies back then. Hope you are well and I bet you a4e all ready for Christmas

What? People didn't know about Hot Tamales? I love those candies, but my husband is allergic to cinnamon (which means I don't get to eat them and kiss him, so ... I don't eat them). Probably TMI (clears throat) - sorry.And yes, I am looking forward to seeing Aquaman!

I remember Karen Black showing up in every other Saturday show for awhile - a face you don't easily forget.You've mentioned several of those 'Saturday' shows I was referring to ;-)Odds are, I will see Aquaman at some point. I am surrounded by fans! I thought The Abyss was good, though cheesy. Now they've created a cheesier film? I'm going to casually leave the info on Literary Book Gifts in a conspicuous place and hope that Santa gets the hint ;-) If not, I'll treat myself after the holidays.Merry Christmas!

Yeah, for Hot Tamales. Haven't had them for ages. Looking forward to Aquaman but I really can't wait for End Game. Though, like Game of Thrones, I can't wait, but I don't want it to be over either.Glad I never got on the Google+ thing. I'm glad to see it go.

I've missed a lot over the last few weeks. I'm happy to play catch up. Great post. I must check out season 2 of MST3K. I must admit, I'm excited about Aquaman now. Going to see it today. I will definitely check out Literary Book Gifts!

About Me

I'm a sci-fi writer on a journey of discovery - books, movies, music, etc.
Founder of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, I'm the author of Amazon Best Sellers CassaStar, CassaFire, CassaStorm, & Dragon of the Stars

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